Alternatives to MEGA
Encrypted storage with a large free tier
MEGA ranks #8 of 12 in Cloud storage, with an Alt Score of 59. It is proprietary, freemium from $6.49/month and available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Web and Browser extension. 7 of 12 checklist rows are verified against a public source.
Individuals and small teams who want cloud file storage and sharing that the provider itself cannot read, from casual users wanting a large free tier to privacy-conscious professionals handling sensitive files.
Zero-knowledge, end-to-end encrypted cloud storage with a free tier of 20GB (expandable via referral/task bonuses). Built-in MEGAchat provides encrypted text messaging plus voice and video calls. File and folder sharing works through links that support passwords and expiry dates, alongside a dedicated large-file transfer feature. Apps are available for web, desktop (MEGAsync), and mobile, and the client-side code is open source.
Files are encrypted and decrypted locally on the user's device, so MEGA's servers only ever store ciphertext and never hold the decryption keys. Users upload or sync files through the web, desktop, or mobile app, then share access via encrypted links or by inviting others directly to folders.
Why people leave MEGA
Dashed reasons are sourced facts; the rest are opinions. Vendors can dispute.
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Ranked alternatives
Ordered by Alt Score. Click any score to see the breakdown.
Feature comparison
How MEGA compares with its alternatives, feature by feature.
| Cloud storage checklist | MEGA | Proton Drive | pCloud | Sync.com | Icedrive | OneDrive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | ||||||
| Starts at | ||||||
| License | ||||||
| Platforms | ||||||
| Free storage amount | ||||||
| E2E encrypted storage | ||||||
| Selective sync | ||||||
| Block-level (delta) sync | ||||||
| File versioning depth | ||||||
| Sharing links with password/expiry | ||||||
| Collaborative editing of docs | ||||||
| WebDAV support | ||||||
| Max file size | ||||||
| Self-hostable | ||||||
| Photos-specific features | ||||||
| Data residency choice |
Every fact and feature listed for MEGA is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
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License Proprietary verified 2026-07-11
MEGA LIMITED CODE REVIEW LICENCE
https://github.com/meganz/webclient/blob/master/LICENCE.md -
Starts at $6.49/month verified 2026-07-11
PRO LITE Monthly","$6.49"]"
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https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mega-encrypted-cloud-storage/id706857885 -
Pricing model Freemium verified 2026-07-11
Start free with 20 GB of private cloud storage. Upgrade anytime for more space at mega.io/pricing
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mega-encrypted-cloud-storage/id706857885 -
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Web, Browser extension verified 2026-07-11
is available for Windows, macOS, and all major Linux distributions.
https://help.mega.io/desktop-app/desktop-installation/system-requirements -
Status active verified 2026-07-11
Updated on 19 March 2026
https://help.mega.io/desktop-app/desktop-installation/system-requirements -
E2e encrypted Yes verified 2026-07-11
“Zero-knowledge” encryption means that only the sender and the recipient can access the content of any message, file, or audio or video stream.
https://help.mega.io/security/data-protection/zero-knowledge-encryption -
Free storage amount Yes verified 2026-07-11
20 GB of free encrypted cloud storage, no credit card required
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mega-encrypted-cloud-storage/id706857885 -
E2E encrypted storage Yes verified 2026-07-11
“Zero-knowledge” encryption means that only the sender and the recipient can access the content of any message, file, or audio or video stream.
https://help.mega.io/security/data-protection/zero-knowledge-encryption -
Selective sync Yes verified 2026-07-11
To switch from syncing your whole Cloud drive to just specific folders
https://help.mega.io/desktop-app/desktop-setup/set-up-syncs -
File versioning depth Yes verified 2026-07-11
We limit versioning to 100 versions per file.
https://help.mega.io/files-folders/data-restoration/file-version-history -
Sharing links with password/expiry Partial verified 2026-07-11
This feature is only available to paid accounts.
https://help.mega.io/security/data-protection/make-links-more-secure -
Max file size Yes verified 2026-07-11
MEGA does not have any file size limits.
https://help.mega.io/files-folders/transfers/no-file-size-limits -
Photos-specific features Yes verified 2026-07-11
Camera uploads is a feature that automatically uploads photos and videos from your mobile device to your MEGA Cloud drive.
https://help.mega.io/mobile-apps/mobile-camera-uploads/camera-uploads
FAQ
Yes. Proton Drive, pCloud and Sync.com have a free tier or are fully free. Free-tier limits in the comparison table are verified and dated.
Nextcloud — every license claim links its source.
Nextcloud can be self-hosted. Cells marked ? mean we have not verified a self-host path yet.